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Let's say a PC has used the form of the dragon I ability from the dragon disciple PrC. They gain fly 60 ft (poor).
Now let's say that this PC wants to make a full attack while flying. Here are the "givens" as I see them; please correct me if I'm wrong.
They have to make a Hover check, right? The normal DC is 15, but they have poor maneuverability so they have a -4 penalty on their roll. If they roll a 14 or less then they have failed by 5 or more and "plummet to the ground and take appropriate falling damage".
Questions:
1. When is the Fly check rolled? It seems like the start of the action when the PC declares a full attack (that's the point at which the PC is not moving at least half his speed and is thus defined as hovering). Or, perhaps the PC gets to take the first attack and then decide? (That allows the PC to change his mind after seeing how the first attack goes and switch to a move action for the second part of his turn.)
2. If the Fly check is failed by 5 or more (the attempt to hover fails) and the PC plummets to the ground, is that movement considered movement by the creature (thus taking up their action for the round) and does it provoke AOOs as they fall?
3. How much of their action is consumed by falling? Suppose they only fall 5 ft to a solid surface. What if they fall 10 feet? Is the first considered a "5-ft step" and the second is a move action? Or does a failed attempt to hover consume their entire action for the round? Or maybe it only consumes a move action if the distance fallen is less than double their movement (since flying downwards allows double the distance to be traveled in a single move)? In the case of the example PC that would be 120 ft.
4. Does flying with wings otherwise affect the full attack action of the PC? Can the wings be used in the attack routine? If the hover check succeeds, does the PC gain the +1 bonus for being on "higher ground" or do they need a stable surface to stand on to gain that bonus?
Lots of fun, eh? Can you guess what situation I'm expecting to come up in next Tuesday's game? ;-)
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Disclaimer: I'm not the best source for this information.
1. At the end of that character's turn. At the beginning of the turn, they haven't actually "hovered" yet :P
2. It shouldn't take their movement, otherwise creatures with a slower speed would fall slower. They don't provoke AoO's for this because they still have actions to take. Normal movement provokes AoO's because while you're moving you can't defend yourself (Spring Attack effectively bypasses both of those).
3. None. The rulebook says, though I don't remember where, that you fall at a speed of 500ft/round unless otherwise stated. In addition, if you have that much space you can get your actions off before you fall (cast Fly, instead of just Feather Fall, for instance). This pairs with answer 2. The rest of their actions take place after they fall.
4. I wouldn't think so, but I may be wrong. Otherwise, a dragon's Wing attacks wouldn't be of much use... but that's just a guess really :)
Best of luck to ya'!
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1) The check should come at the last available opportunity before "what happens next" can only be determined by the results of the check.
2) & 3) Falling is not considered movement; if the Fly (hover) check fails by 5 or more, the action (or combination of actions) the character was trying to perform while hovering is probably wasted (because making that check is part of the action).
Think about what happens if the hover check fails, but not by 5 or more - they simply have to spend a move action to fly around.
4) No, flying with wings doesn't prohibit wing attacks.
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1) I agree with Tom about when to roll the Hover check. In your scenario, take 1 attack, roll the check if full attack desired, proceed. He either makes the check and gets his full attack while hovering, fails but does not fall (must move and thus provoke AoO), or fails and falls.
2) I think it is reasonable to treat this similarly to riding a mount. It takes the duration of the move. He can do other things while moving (such as cast a spell). It provokes AoO.
3) I don't think this question applies given reply to 2). However, moving 5' only doesn't define a 5' step. If he moves 5' in a fall...it provokes. Were he to fall a short distance and wanted to do something else while falling, a Concentration check for violent motion or a skill check penalty may be appropriate.
4) I interpret hovering in winged flight as using the wings for that purpose. It enables talon attacks if they are possessed. This is akin to using arms while climbing.